Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)

Overview

Taking a pro-active approach to governance, risk and compliance is essential in a world of changing regulatory compliance. Corporate governance issues can have a lasting effect on the success of your organisation, brand, and reputation.

Bringing together experts from across our global services, our governance, risk and compliance team will work alongside you to ensure you are protecting your business from all angles. From internal audits of your current operations to drafting policies and reporting to the board, our lawyers can offer you practical advice that is tailored to your organisation. Our team can support all of your risk management and compliance requirements, ensuring all aspects of good governance are covered.

Governance, Risk and Compliance services

Employment

Our Employment team can help you to ensure you are meeting corporate governance, risk and compliance expectations as an employer. We are able to advise you on a variety of employment issues including board diversity, whistleblowing, the Gender Pay Gap, and Equal Pay.

Fraud, Insolvency and Asset Recovery

Where there has been corporate or personal wrongdoing, such as white collar crime, our Fraud, Insolvency and Asset Recovery team are well placed to help to minimise any financial or reputational impact on your business.

Modern Slavery/Business & Human Rights

With legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act in force, businesses have an obligation to be more transparent and check their supply chain for potential human trafficking and slavery. We can advise you on reporting requirements, due diligence and internal processes.

Pension Regulation

Pension law can be complicated. Our Pensions team can work with you to ensure that you are fulfilling your duties and obligations. We guide our clients through regulatory changes to maintain their compliance and manage risk.

Construction

Managing risk is crucial to any construction project. We can advise you on risk allocation as well as bespoke construction and engineering documents such as building contracts and consultant appointments. Our construction team also have expertise in avoiding and resolving disputes as well as the effects of insolvency.

Environmental

We now face both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility to work to ensure our impact on the environment is reduced. Our climate change and environmental law team provide a range of services to help you manage your environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). We can advise you on the likes of social impact, sustainability, climate change risk, and carbon reduction.

Health and Safety

Our Health and Safety specialists will work with you to manage risks and meet any regulatory requirements. If the worst happens, our team has the expertise and experience to support you through criminal court cases and investigations.

Advertising/Media/PR

Our advertising & product regulatory team work with our clients to ensure that compliance and contracts do not become barriers to creativity. We can advise you on managing legal and reputational risk by helping you to navigate advertising regulations and disputes.

Antitrust

Our antitrust and competition law team have the expertise to advise you across a broad range of issues in this area. Businesses that find themselves infringing antitrust law can face significant financial and reputational consequences. Our specialists will advise you to achieve the best outcome for your business.

Brexit

Now that the UK has left the European Union, businesses need to prepare for how it may impact their operations, supply chain and regulatory obligations. Our Brexit Unit helps clients navigate this period of flux and plan for the future with expertise across a range of issues and services

Contracts/Guarantees

When negotiating and drafting contracts you want to be sure that you are avoiding any possible risk. Our commercial contracts specialists are here to advise you on contracts and guarantees to ensure you achieve your commercial objectives while protecting your business.

Cyber Security and Data Protection

Cyber attacks, special/sensitive data and data privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) are a worry for all businesses. We can advise you on a range of issues including data subject access requests (DSARs), privacy notices and data breaches.

Product Liability/Consumer Law

Products need to comply with a range of legislation, standards and quality marks. Our lawyers can support you to ensure that you are managing your compliance and avoiding risk.

Trade Compliance

The global trade landscape presents a range of challenges to businesses. Our international trade and customs lawyers can assist you in your compliance of applicable laws and regulations. Our team has expertise in designing trade compliance programmes, processes and controls to help you to manage potential issues.

Anti-Tax Evasion

Our tax team provides specialist consultancy for businesses needing assistance with risk management and compliance. Drawing on years' of experience and statistical analysis, we identify the best avenues to safeguard your business.

Bribery and Corruption

Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that they have internal controls in place to combat anti-bribery and corruption. Our team of specialists can advise you on best practice to avoid reputational and financial risks.

Financial Services Compliance FCA and PRA

If you operate in the financial services sector you will have compliance obligations with bodies such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our financial services regulatory lawyers can advise you on appropriate conduct to ensure your compliance and mitigate risk.

Governance

Our Governance team can advise you on Director Duties, corporate governance reporting requirements, conflicts of interest and PSC Disclosure.

Insurance

Our insurance practice focuses on stress testing cover and ensuring our clients get as much value as they can. Most of our insurance team have a litigation background so are perfectly placed to identify risk and advise on best use of insurance.

Public/Listed Company Compliance and Reporting

If you operate as a public/listed company you will have specific compliance and reporting requirements. We can advise you in a multitude of areas including insider dealing/market abuse, share dealing policy, governance codes and reporting, and broad terms of reference.

Senior Managers and Certification Regime

The Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) aims to strengthen individual accountability in financial services. Our financial services regulation team can advise you on how these regulations affect your business and how to maintain compliance.

Recognition

They are the go-to firm for legal advice... they also have a nice way about them and are extremely approachable.Chambers UK

Our team of risk management and compliance lawyers comprises of individuals from across our practice areas worldwide. Gowling WLG is consistently recognised by the likes of The Legal 500, Chambers UK, Chambers Canada, The Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Client work

Housing associations

Assisting with advice around data protection, the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations. Rolling out data protection compliance programs and training internal data protection advisors.
Brexit

Working with a major pharmaceutical company to assess the regulatory landscape post-Brexit and the impact for them on customs compliance. We advised on which entity could legally act as an importer/exporter of record and the process for an Authorised Economic Operator Application.
Trade controls

Conducting a pan European multi-site remote review of a Tier 1 supplier to the defence industry. Our team advised on any compliance risks with EU export controls legislation. We provided the Head of Legal and Compliance with an indication of sites that required a more comprehensive audit whilst ensuring business disruption was minimised.

Investment banks

Advice on a variety of regulatory matters including MiFID II, corporate governance, the SMCR and board remuneration, FCA Custody Rules and the new EU market abuse regime.
Automotive

Advising a major automotive manufacturer on FCA regulation relating to consumer finance, on a major project involving marketing and digital distribution.
Investment funds

We advised the managers of an investment fund on its annual environmental report and GHG emissions reporting duties. This included undertaking an audit of its reports to ensure compliance.

Sectors

Meet the international team

If you are in need of advice in this area, please speak to one of our key jurisdictional contacts.

Sharon Ayres

Partner (UK)

Sharon leads the Governance, Risk and Compliance team in the UK. She has over 25 years of experience working in corporate law and handles every deal with a passion finding solutions to the trickiest of issues. When it comes to her corporate governance practice, Sharon advises on director's duties, conflicts of interest, corporate governance reporting, requirements and frameworks and related matters.

David Lowe

Partner (UK)

David Lowe is an experienced partner focusing on commercial contracts. He plays a crucial role as a member of the firm's Brexit Unit and Head of International Trade. His practice covers a broad range of compliance areas to ensure that clients mitigate potential risks.

Ben Stansfield

Partner (UK)

Ben is one the UK's leading lawyers practising planning and environmental law. He has years of experience advising clients on the consenting and regulation of their projects and their compliance with environmental regulations and reporting standards. Ben is highly regarded for his straightforward approach and clients appreciate his ability to break down complex regulations into user-friendly practical advice that they can action.

Simon Stephen

Legal Director (UK)

Simon's approach is hands on and pragmatic. With 12 years' experience at Gowling WLG (returning in 2019), and four years' experience of working in the Employee Relations team of a global financial institution he has a deep understanding of a client's viewpoint, including the need for practical guidance at an early stage in order to have control over risk, cost and commercial objectives.

Marcus Hinkley

Associate (Canada)

Marcus provides advice to Canadian and international clients on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, Canadian capital markets, foreign investment, corporate reorganisations and general corporate and commercial issues. Marcus has assisted clients in a wide variety of industry sectors with a particular focus on technology, agriculture, mining, energy, pharmaceuticals and retail.

Stephen Pike

Partner (Canada)

Stephen's extensive corporate practice includes providing advice on corporate governance and risk management issues. He regularly advises businesses and investors entering the Canadian market on acquiring businesses, bringing new products to the market and making new investments.

Danhoé Reddy-Girard

Partner (France)

Danhoé's practice focuses on banking & finance, real estate and compliance. In his compliance practice, Danhoé advises various organisations with the adaptation of their contracts to French law and on complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). He drafts contracts, policies, privacy notices, records of processing activities and audit reports.